A couple of pointers for the peanut gallery.

The Osprey transitions from VTOL to airplane in just over 10 seconds.

The proprotors do adjust pitch, just like any modern helo or fixed wing aircraft. What, do you really think that when it goes faster, the props are just turning at a greater rpm?

To the one questioning the “full-deployment” of the Osprey–the Corps is almost done transitioning its 46 squadrons on the East Coast, and an Osprey squadron is beginning the aircraft’s third combat deployment. What else do you want?

Mistakes have been made in the past in the Osprey program. They’ve been corrected, and now the Marine Corps has a capability no other armed force possesses.

Some other noteworthy aircraft had problems initially–the B-29, F4U, and even the CH-46 come to mind. They were solved, and all of those went on to make huge contributions to our nation’s security.

The US has to pay the price to keep weapons developers working on the technology for the US. It is far too embarassing and possibly dangerous to face new weapons in the theater.

LM, NG, EADS, and Boeing are weapons builders to the highest bidder. They only create patriotic US propaganda when seeking US dollars.

They can build it for the US or build it for someone else.

This is SNAFU for mil aviation.

Now, who do you suppose is picking up the bill for repairs? The Taxpayer.….….hmmm, could be!

Who’s going to hang for the oversight.…… no one above the paygrade of O5, GUARANTEED!

And we had solved the problem of high-speed-plus-VTOL back in the 1960s, with the AH-56. Take a helicopter and put a prop on it. Indeed, this is still being done today, with the Speedhawk, and Sikorsky’s X2.

Hell, I’ll bet ten bucks that an X-45 derivative will fly and be in service before V-22 reaches full deployment…

“I worked on the Osprey program for over eight years and this is minor compared to the other “known” problems with this aircraft. For instance, the heating elements in the proprotors all short out shortly after every installation on every aircraft, therefore, they cannot de-ice the blades in cold weather. The fix is that they don’t fly when it’s freezing.It takes 42 seconds to transform from airplane mode to helicopter mode, during this time, you are a sitting duck for enemy fire. 33 onboard computers fly this thing, if one goes offline you crash, as this ship cannot be flown manually. I could go on and on, but you get the point. This ship already has killed many, and will kill many more.”

It is unfortunate to sustain damages to any of our aircraft, but we were ahead of the curve on this particular engineering problem and already in the process of making the necessary mods when this incident occurred. Soon after, ALL Block A and Block B MV-22B Ospreys received the modifications described below.

a) Larger, thicker-walled titanium hydraulic lines leading to the EAPS have been installed that are capable of sustaining the hydraulic pressure spikes that an EAPS malfunction could cause.

b) Hydraulic lines have been re-routed to eliminate bends that potentially place the lines under increased stress and could reduce their ability to withstand excessive spikes in pressure.

c) In-line shutoff valves that detect leaks in the system and immediately shut off the flow of hydraulic fluid, minimizing fluid loss have been
incorporated.

d) The capacity of the annulus, the area in the lower nacelle designed to catch and contain any fluid leaks, has been increased.

e) New drain lines out of the nacelle have been installed to more rapidly drain any leaked fluids and carry them out of the nacelle, past the IR suppressor and away from any potential ignition source.

ALL Ospreys now have the modifications and they have also been fully incorporated into the V-22 production line so that new aircraft do not
require further modification after leaving the factory. This is a success story typically painted with a black brush by the armchair critics.
Just by coincidence, this is also the one year anniversary of our incredibly
successful Osprey combat deployments to Iraq. The proof is in the performance.

I pity the enemy that will face this system in combat! The capability to swoop in fast and deploy like lightning is just too overwhelming to ignore.

The Osprey would be a much improved platform with this retrofit.